Alaska chokes Petron; Balkman makes scene

Game today (Legazpi, Albay)

6:30 p.m. – Talk n Text vs Barako Bull

Games tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:15 p.m. – Air21 vs Globalport

6:30 p.m. – Ginebra vs San Mig Coffee

MANILA, Philippines - Stopped the last time out, Alaska Milk came back strong and regained solo lead after halting Petron Blaze’s own hot charge, 83-73, in a tight seesawing game marred by a bizarre finish in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Aces made a good defensive job on tournament scoring leader Renaldo Balkman, who went after the referees and his teammates with 21 seconds left to play.

After missing a shot off Rob Dozier, Balkman protested a no-call, confronting the referees and later some teammates. He also appeared to have choked teammate Arwind Santos, who tried to prevent him from confronting another referee.

 The Aces held Balkman to six points on 3-of-16 field shooting as they bounced back from a loss to the San Mig Coffee Mixers 48 hours ago and moved back atop the heap at 6-1.

 Before the game, Balkman averaged a tournament-best 28.2 points a game.

 He shoved away teammates Ronald Tubid and Santos, not wanting to be pacified as he’s after the referees.

 â€œWe had a law today. Balkman was the reason why they got 5-0. It’s not everyday you stop him but I’m proud how Rob Dozier matched up with him,” said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo.

Chris Tiu and Gabe Norwood hit timely three-pointers to break Globalport’s solid zone defense at the finish and hand the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters their fifth straight win with a 103-95 drubbing of the Batang Pier in the first game.

Tiu and Norwood combined for five treys, including one each at crunch time, enabling the Elasto Painters to stop the momentum of Globalport’s charge from a 20-point deficit in the third period.

Norwood later came through with a three-point play on an assist by Bruno Sundov and off a foul by Sol Mercado as the E-Painters sealed their fifth consecutive victory after a losing conference debut against the Alaska Milk Aces.

Globalport fought back from 35-55 down and threatened at 92-93 only to reel back by missing all their three attempts from beyond the arc in the last two minutes.